Roy Cooper robbed more than 560 prisoners who were re-arrested after the release of COVID

Democratic Senator and former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is being slammed as a “total failure” after hundreds of inmates released under his administration as part of a COVID-19 deal were rearrested on new charges over the course of two years.

This comes as Cooper is locked in a heated Senate race with Republican Michael Whatley that could help decide which party controls the chamber. A spokesman for Cooper's campaign dismissed the criticism as “blatant lies from Republicans,” pointing to how the former governor fought the impeachment. The spokesperson also said that thousands of prisoners were released during the Trump administration due to COVID-19.

A Fox News Digital review of data from the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission found that more than 560 inmates released during Cooper's administration went on to be arrested for new crimes within two years of their release.

The deal led to the release of 3,500 inmates in a 180-day period from February to August 2021. Among those released was Tyrell Brace, who was later charged with involuntary manslaughter for killing a young father, Elante Thompson, in Charlotte. Brace previously pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation and assault causing grievous bodily harm and had charges of assault and burglary. North Carolina Department of Public Safety records show Brace was released months earlier than planned.

CHARLOTTE RAIL KILLING SUSPECT CONNECTED PRISON RELEASE GRANTED UNDER DEM GOVERNOR, GOP SAYS

Another released inmate, Daron Owens, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a gang member stemming from a drive-by shooting months after his release that left the victim with gunshot wounds. Owens was released a month early.

Cooper's Senate opponent, Michael Whatley, a Republican, tore him apart, tweeting on X that “Roy Cooper has completely failed to keep our communities safe.”

“The families of the victims need answers,” he continued, adding, “Why did Roy Cooper allow these dangerous criminals back on our streets?”

The mass release stems from a 2020 lawsuit filed by the North Carolina NAACP, the ACLU and other groups, which argued that overcrowded prison conditions during the violence unconstitutionally put inmates at risk. The plaintiffs initially pushed for the release of thousands of other prisoners. But the state finally settled the case in early 2021, agreeing to reduce the prison population through early releases, parole reviews and other measures, resulting in the release of about 3,500 inmates.

The move has been criticized by Republicans as one of the largest prisoner releases in the country. At the time, Cooper's administration insisted that the exclusion would focus on those who were not violent, though officials later acknowledged that people with violent convictions were also included.

Court records show that other inmates released at the time had criminal histories, including crimes involving assault, sex crimes, kidnapping and crimes against children.

Data reviewed by Fox News Digital found that of a sample group of 1,180 inmates, 48 ​​percent, 566, were later arrested for new crimes. In the sample group, 20 percent were convicted.

In addition to Brace and Owens, the other person released was Jimmie Speight, who was convicted of indecent liberties with a child and failure to register as a sex offender and was released before nine months. In 2023, he was sentenced to more than 32 years in prison for second-degree murder.

Another, Kyshuan Norrell, who was convicted of murder, has also been acquitted and has been sentenced to life in prison for murder.

TRUMP SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE 'BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS' AFTER DEADLY CHARLOTTE TRAIN CRASH.

North Carolina Republican Senator and former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley speaks at an election night watch party in Charlotte, NC, on March 3, 2026. (Erik Verduzco/AP)

Whatley campaign spokesman DJ Griffin hit out at the former governor about the release, telling Fox News Digital that “Roy Cooper has blood on his hands.”

Griffin said “Cooper's dangerous decision to release thousands of felons during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the deaths of 19 North Carolinians.”

“Now, the families of the victims say that he alone is responsible for this death. All this time Cooper refuses to take responsibility for his actions,” said Griffin.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) also piled on Cooper, calling the release “BABY,” in an X post, adding, “Roy Cooper needs to answer for this.”

Bernadette Breslin, national press secretary for the NRSC, told Fox News Digital that the deal is equal to the Democrat “has helped and helped free thousands of violent criminals from the streets of North Carolina,” adding, “Cooper's anti-crime policies are extremely dangerous to North Carolina families.”

In response, a spokesperson for Cooper's campaign dismissed the criticism, telling Fox News Digital that “these blatant lies from Republicans have been scrutinized for months and found to be false.”

A spokesperson said “after Roy fought this extradition in court, North Carolina law enforcement and parole officials looked at the same tactics President Trump used last year when his administration released thousands of inmates because of COVID-19.”

CHARLOTTE TEEN ARRESTED 111 TIMES IN 2 YEARS STILL WALKS FREE IN SOFT BLUE TOWN: POLICE

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, September 9, 2025, alongside photos of Ukrainian fugitive Iryna Zarutska and Decarlos Brown Jr., who is suspected of her murder. (Saul Loeb/AFP)

“Keeping the public safe is Roy Cooper's top priority, which is why he refused to reduce sentences when outside groups asked him to during the violence,” the spokesman continued.

They added, “While Roy spent his career putting rapists and violent criminals behind bars, Michael Whatley spent his time appointing a convicted child molester and multiple child sex offenders to a powerful position in the North Carolina Republican Party.”

Harvey West Jr., a registered sex offender who served prison time on child sex charges, later held leadership and committee roles within the North Carolina GOP during Whatley's tenure as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. Whatley said West was “handpicked,” according to the Washington Examiner.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

This comes as North Carolina leaders grapple with high-profile murders, such as the killing of Ukrainian fugitive Iryna Zarutska. Republicans have suspected that the man charged with Zarutska's murder, Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., may have been one of the prisoners released under the COVID deal. However, Cooper dismissed this as “false.”

Brown had been arrested at least 14 times before his murder and was sentenced to prison in North Carolina after being convicted of armed robbery in 2015. He was released from custody in September 2020.

Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.